Need help with navy blazer for professional setting

[teege]

Hi, I'm struggling with this one and am hoping you all could help.

I'm looking for a navy blazer to wear to business recruitment type events. Meet and greets with potential employers while I'm in grad school.

I'm a 36S and like a trim cut style. I've been searching and could really could find a couple that worked, but each had flaws.

First was this:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/boss-black-trim-fit-navy-blazer/3080069

Problem is IMO the ticket pocket. I'm wondering if (1) that's a deal breaker, (2) if I tuck in the flap it's not a big deal, and (3) maybe Nordstrom can alter it?

There's also this, but it's not a modern/trim cut and looks a little boxy:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/boss-bl...oat/3169207?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0

Between Saks, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales that's virtually all I could find. I'm also partial to Boss because I know their 36S fits perfectly. I am sure other brands like Theory would work—and I've looked that those—but I haven't found a design/color that suits me.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Russ_H]

The jackets in the photographs that you have linked to look, to me, like orphan jackets from a suit. They do not look like a conventional blazer. Sadly, the distinction between blazer and odd jacket is now being lost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazer

Odd jackets and blazers are both fine, in the right circumstances, but I think there needs to be a good degree of contrast between jacket and trousers.

As I'm located on the east side of the Atlantic, I'm afraid that I can't help with shopping suggestions.

 

[Bradford]

You might consider the offering from Anderson-Little.

http://andersonlittle.com/

Reviews have been good, the price is right, and they will work with you to ensure the correct fit.

OTOH, why wouldn't you wear a suit? Blazer and slacks is sort of an undergrad look.

 

[jrd617]

Amjack fit right here


Baggy acid wash jeans: check
Square toes: check
Baggy shirt: check
Shoulder divots: check

 

[Bradford]

Yeah, the picture doesn't make it look very professional. However, other than the claim of shoulder divots, which I can't see, everything else would be fixed by pairing the blazer with different clothing.

 

[teege]



The jackets in the photographs that you have linked to look, to me, like orphan jackets from a suit. They do not look like a conventional blazer. Sadly, the distinction between blazer and odd jacket is now being lost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazer
Odd jackets and blazers are both fine, in the right circumstances, but I think there needs to be a good degree of contrast between jacket and trousers.
As I'm located on the east side of the Atlantic, I'm afraid that I can't help with shopping suggestions.

I guess one issue is that I'm looking for a non-suit jacket that is formal enough to be okay in recruitment type settings. I don't really view an (very)odd jacket appropriate in this setting...would you say to nix the blazer altogether then?

OTOH, why wouldn't you wear a suit? Blazer and slacks is sort of an undergrad look.

So, I'm trying to dress up a business casual setting by throwing on a jacket. Maybe I'm thinking about this wrong. There are business formal events, and yes, I plan to wear a suit to those. Wasn't planning on doing so to the more relaxed events.

 

[CousinDonuts]

Ticket pocket would not be a killer. 97% of the people there wouldn't even notice. 1% may wonder why there is a 3rd pocket. 2% will think it's an upscale touch.

How bout this: http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/sportcoatsandvests/Ludlowsportcoats/PRDOVR~42324/42324.jsp

 

[Bradford]



So, I'm trying to dress up a business casual setting by throwing on a jacket. Maybe I'm thinking about this wrong. There are business formal events, and yes, I plan to wear a suit to those. Wasn't planning on doing so to the more relaxed events.

That makes sense. One thought is that if you already have a trim-cut, modern suit that you like, why not just wear it without a tie or even with a polo shirt to any event where you might want to wear a sportcoat? Dressing down in a suit is a good look - or at least I think so

 

[Slammo]

If you're considering a higher price point: Epaulet Caine navy sportcoat

http://www.epauletshop.com/servlet/the-1048/Caine-Sportcoat-Navy-Hopsack/Detail

 

[Bradford]

You guys must have a lot more money to spend than I did in grad school!

 

[unbelragazzo]

While a ticket pocket in general is not a bad idea (I quite like them myself), as a smaller gentleman I think you're right to be cautious about it. The more you clutter up the jacket, the more you shorten the lines of the look, which is contrary to the effect you want. This is why most successful dressers who are on the shorter side go for clean lines and solids over patterns. I'd check out Brooks Brothers and especially Suit Supply (they have a cotton blazer I think, which might be the right level of formality for the business casual settings that you're describing, and feature a trimmer cut).

 

[connor09]

Buy from Nordstrom or other stores then have it altered by them or your tailor.

 

[OlSarge]

+1

 

[zerostyle]

Hey all,

I'm on the hunt for a navy blazer for work settings where a suit isn't really appropriate.

I'm 5'9, and the challenge I've had is to find blazers that are an appropriate length. (Around 29" BOC). Regulars all seem to run a bit long, and shorts can be hard to find, or have a weird balance on me.

Any suggestions for a navy blazer that meets the following criteria?

1. 2-button
2. non-functioning sleeve cuffs so I can have it tailored
3. Short sizes available
4. Slim fitting
5. notch lapel
6. No weird ticket pockets/etc
7. Normal button stance - don't like high button stances (unfortunately if I switch from a regular to a short the whole fit seems to lend itself to this)
8. Price range $400 max, prefer to keep it lower if possible

Here's are some BB blazers - you can see that it runs a bit long. Unfortunately no shorts were available to try on.
LEFT: 38R Fitzgerald
RIGHT: 38R Regent

 

[12345Michael54321]



Here's are some BB blazers - you can see that it runs a bit long.

Although they are perhaps slightly longer than today's fashion may define as ideal, they're by no means objectionably long. In fact, given the nature of the garment (a navy Brooks blazer - even a somewhat slim-fitting and "modern" one - is still essentially a conservative and traditional item), the lengths shown in your photographs strike me as actually being preferably to anything much shorter, currently prevailing fashion trends be damned.

While your photos don't really show all that much detail in the blazers, I prefer the look of the Fitzgerald on you. (And a case could certainly be made that the Fitzgerald is the more traditionally styled of the two, for that matter.)

If you were a little shorter, I'd advise you to stick with a short. But at 5'9", and given that you don't appear to have an unusually short torso relative to the lengths of your legs, I don't see any compelling reason for you to avoid wearing a regular. Overall, it's almost certainly the better length for you in this garment.
--
Michael